Chapter 22: The Li Family in the Capital

Li Yi stood at the dormitory door, suddenly frozen in place.

There was a person at the door, someone very close to him.

Her name was Fang Fang, his mother in this life, the woman who had poured all her heart and soul into Li Yi.

She wore a patched but clean cotton dress and shoes she had woven herself years ago. Though simple, she looked neat and tidy, and was smiling apologetically as she spoke to the dormitory manager. Li Yi heard the manager shout loudly, "You can't come in! This is a student dormitory! It's not a place for begging, and there's nothing to steal here."

A surge of anger rose in Li Yi. In two quick steps, he ran over and delivered a perfect right hook to the manager's left face, roaring, "What did you say? You're the one who looks like a thief!"

The manager staggered back several steps and shouted, "Are you crazy? I was scolding her, what's it got to do with you?"

"She's my mother! You can kill me, but you can't insult her!" Li Yi's anger was boiling, his voice high, and he was about to strike again.

The manager was terrified by Li Yi's fierce expression and hid behind Fang Fang, shouting, "I said I'm sorry, okay?"

Li Yi opened a bag and took out bundles of cash, slamming them at the manager, "Look clearly! What is this? Do you think the Li family is short of money? Frugality is a virtue, but you think we're poor and accuse us of being thieves?"

Fang Fang's face turned stern, and she called out, "Yi'er!"

Hearing this call, Li Yi's whole body stiffened.

This "Yi'er" was exactly the same as what his mother in his previous life used to call him!

It was so familiar. He felt as if he had returned to his past. When he was young, whenever he was naughty, his mother would call out sternly, "Yi'er!" As he grew up and left home, every time he called home, his mother would first scold him, "Yi'er! Why did you take so long to call back?" It had only been two days...

"Yi'er!" Fang Fang's call brought him back to reality.

He couldn't hold back anymore. He ran over, ignoring the strange looks from passersby, and hugged her tightly, saying softly, "Don't be angry, okay? Mom!"

"Yi'er! I'm not angry." Fang Fang was very happy. She knew her son had grown up and now felt for her.

Fang Fang bowed to the manager, "I'm sorry, I didn't raise my son well, causing you trouble. How are you hurt?"

Fang Fang's dignity and politeness made the manager feel ashamed. He quickly waved his hands, "It's fine, it's fine. It's my fault, I should say sorry, ma'am. I don't have much education, I spoke without thinking." He then hid inside the dormitory building.

Fang Fang looked at Li Yi, her voice stern, unlike her usual gentle and virtuous self, "Yi'er, how have I taught you? You don't study well and learn to do bad things? Tell me, where did you get this money? If you don't tell me clearly today, I'll beat you to death and pretend I never had you!"

Li Yi was frightened and quickly confessed, explaining everything.

"Really?"

"Really!"

"How much did you say?"

"Eighty million." Li Yi, fearing she wouldn't believe him, quickly took out his bankbook to show her.

"Mom, don't worry, this money is legitimate. We can spend it freely. Let's buy a big house, nice clothes, and delicious food."

"Trouble! No wonder they came to find us!" Fang Fang was not at all happy, but rather felt a huge trouble had arisen. "Yi'er! Sigh, it's done, let's see how it goes."

"What happened?"

"Your uncle has come."

"My uncle? My father's brother? His real brother?"

"Of course, your father's real brother. How can there be a fake one?"

"Why have I never heard of him?"

"Child, there are many things from the past I haven't told you, because you were too young. Now that you've grown up, I can tell you."

"What things?"

"Your father loved painting. One year, he came to our village to sketch and met me. He couldn't leave after that. Those days, I accompanied him every day, climbing mountains, entering forests, and modeling for him. He said the scenery was beautiful, but compared to me, it was just lifeless and unsmiling." Fang Fang was lost in her memories, a happy smile on her face.

"Hehe, no wonder I'm so charming, I inherited it from Dad."

"Later, I became pregnant with you. Your father took me home to discuss our marriage, but his family strongly opposed it. In a fit of anger, your father took me back to the countryside. That year, your father fell seriously ill and died without treatment." Fang Fang wiped away her tears. "It was my fault. If he had stayed in the capital, with better medical conditions, he might not have died..."

"Mom!" Li Yi gently hugged his mother.

"After your father passed away, the Li family came to take his ashes back to the capital. I wanted you to have a better life and asked them to take you, but they didn't recognize me as a member of the Li family or you as their grandson. Sigh, if you had gone to the capital, life would have been a thousand times better here!"

"Hmph, I don't care about the life in the capital. I should thank them for not taking me away, so I could feel Mom's love." Li Yi had no good feelings towards the Li family.

"Naive child! Now that your uncle has come, he might want to take you back because you've become successful."

"Before, they didn't recognize my existence, and now, I won't recognize them. Mom, don't worry, I won't go with them."

"Yi'er! Don't you want to recognize your roots? Don't you want to go to your father's grave and pay your respects?"

"Mom, did Uncle send you to persuade me?"

"Yi'er, this is also what I think. I can't take care of you forever..."

"Mom!" Li Yi's tears streamed down his face. "I'll take care of you for the rest of my life, okay?"

"Okay, okay!"

"..."

As they talked, they unknowingly reached their home.

This was a shantytown, a spontaneous settlement of homeless people using asbestos tiles, boards, and various building scraps to build simple houses. They were low, damp, hot, and dirty.

Outside the shantytown, a black Audi with a military license plate was parked. Li Yi was curious and couldn't help but take a closer look.

A young driver sat in the Audi, wearing a military green shirt and a short haircut, looking very spirited.

The driver felt Li Yi's gaze, turned his head, and looked at Li Yi.

Just that one look made Li Yi's heart tremble: What a sharp gaze!

Li Yi's home was just one room. Except for using the public toilet outside, all other physiological needs and living activities were handled in this narrow, small room.

At that moment, two people were sitting inside: a sturdy, imposing middle-aged man and a beautiful, lovely little girl about ten years old.

The little girl was monopolizing the only fan in the room and kept complaining, "Dad, this isn't a place for humans to live! Our doghouse is bigger and more comfortable! Let's go!"

"Shut up!" the middle-aged man shouted. "I said I didn't want to bring you, but you insisted! Your aunt and cousin have been living in such a place! You can't even stay for a while? I think you need to suffer more. One day, I'll throw you in the countryside for a year or two, and you'll be obedient."

The little girl pouted and didn't dare to speak again.

The door creaked open, and Li Yi and Fang Fang walked in.

Fang Fang nudged Li Yi, "Quick, call Uncle!"

Li Yi glanced at the middle-aged man and didn't say a word.

The little girl jumped up, circled Li Yi, and looked up at him, "Hey, you're Li Yi? My brother?"

Li Yi coldly replied, "I'm Li Yi, but not your brother. You've got the wrong person. Please leave."

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